Ricky Hatton fights Floyd Mayweather on November 10th
by Joe Kowalski
http://www.castefootball.us
White fighters will be looking to increase their domination of boxing as they take part in this fall’s most anticipated matches. Here is a breakdown of fights that already have the sports world taking note.
September 29: (HBO) Kelly Pavlik v. Jermaine Taylor (WBC and WBO Middleweight Titles)
Readers of this column have known about Kelly Pavlik for some time now. But “The Ghost” burst upon the boxing scene in 2007 with two spectacular knockout wins on HBO. Almost everyone picked the much-hyped slugger Edison Miranda to KO Pavlik in May, but Kelly turned the tables and gave the mouthy Colombian a well-deserved beating. On the same card, Jermaine Taylor looked terrible in pulling out a decision win over junior middleweight Cory Spinks. The fight will be for Taylor’s WBC and WBO belts and the winner will be considered the best middleweight in the world. Ironically, both men have trouble making the 160lb limit and plan to head to super middleweight (168) after this fight.
Taylor has wins over Bernard Hopkins and a draw with Winky Wright, so this will not be an easy task for Pavlik. But the feeling here is that Kelly has too many advantages in size, power and athleticism. America’s best white fighter may one day be considered the best fighter in the world.Prediction: Pavlik TKO 9
November 3: (U.S. TV Not Finalized) Mikkel Kessler v. Joe Calzaghe (WBA, WBC and WBO Super Middleweight Titles)
This superfight is emblematic of the change in boxing over the last decade. Growing up, superfights meant two blacks fighting each other with the occasional Hispanic (Chavez, Duran, De La Hoya) thrown in. But these two undefeated white champs will meet in London this fall to settle a long simmering debate about who is the man at 168.
WBO champion since 1997, Calzaghe (35) is one of boxing’s best kept secrets. He is currently ranked 7th in Ring’s “pound-for-pound” ratings and is just starting to get the respect he merits as he winds down his career. A win over Kessler could move him up to the top 3 in the P4P rankings. Kessler (28) is hovering near the top 10 P4P and a win will perhaps put him in the top 5. He looked very impressive in shutting out undefeated Librado Andrade on HBO in April.
Both Calzaghe and Kessler have excellent power, speed and technique. The feeling here is that Kessler is a more natural super middleweight and that his youth may give him an edge in the later rounds.
Prediction: Kessler by Close Decision
November 10 (PPV) Ricky Hatton v. Floyd Mayweather (WBC Welterweight Title)
Almost everyone will be picking Mayweather in what could be the most racially charged fight since Holmes-Cooney in 1982. Both fighters are seemingly walking stereotypes. Mayweather is the arrogant, trash-talking black who relies on speed and flashy movement to win fights. He hangs out with rappers and is known to wear “bling” and flash wads of cash during his interviews. Hatton is a friendly, likeable guy who respects his opponents and pines for a pint of Guinness immediately after the fight. He hangs out with his fellow Mancs at the local pub and walks into the ring to the Manchester City soccer team anthem.
While “Petty Boy Floyd” has the advantage in speed and is the #1 ranked boxer in most pound-for-pound ratings, the “Hitman” also had some advantages. Ricky is stronger and a bigger puncher than Floyd. He will likely try to make the fight a brawl and go to Mayweather’s body early and often. This strategy worked well against Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo and Hatton certainly seems to rise to the occasion for his biggest fights.
Mayweather also has some impressive names on his resume: Diego Corrales, Oscar de la Hoya and Zab Judah come to mind. But he was given a gift in his first fight against Castillo and has struggled at times against Judah and de la Hoya. While Tszyu was the #3 ranked P4P fighter before his fight with Hatton, Mayweather has never beaten a top 10 P4P fighter.
The feeling here is that Hatton will get under Floyd’s skin and force a brawl. In the middle rounds, Hatton’s body punches will take effect and Mayweather will start to slow. Then it’s only a matter of time before Hatton produces another KO and celebrates with a well deserved pint of Guinness.
Prediction: Hatton KO 11
Other Important Fights
September 22: (U.S. TV Not Finalized) Vitali Klitschko v. Jameel McCline
Out of the ring since December 2004, this fight will help the elder Klitschko shake off some rust against a quality opponent. A win will put Vitali in against the winner of Maskaev-Peter.
Prediction: Klitschko KO 7
September 29: (Showtime) Oleg Maskaev v. Sam Peter (WBC Heavyweight Title)
The winner of this fight will probably not hold onto the WBC belt for too long as he must face Vitali later in the year. Both Maskaev and Peter are big guys who can hit. But while Peter has a chin of iron, Oleg often does not take a great punch.
Prediction: Peter KO 6
October 13 (U.S. TV Not Finalized) Sultan Ibragimov v. Ruslan Chagaev (WBA and WBO Heavyweight Titles)
Both Ibragimov (WBO) and Chagaev (WBA) won their belts earlier this year and will defend them for the first time. This marks the first heavyweight title unification fight since 1999 and the winner should set himself up with a fight against IBF champ Wladimir Klitschko. The two seem evenly matched though Chagaev holds a win over Sultan in the amateurs. Ruslan has also fought slightly better competition with wins over John Ruiz, Vladimir Virchis and Nicolay Valuev.
Prediction: Chagaev by Close Decision